Baseball Season 2012-Reds

During the springtime, sports start for our boys and games, practices, and batting cages 3-4 times a week on top of our regular daily schedule makes it really crazy in our household. 

This was our after-school weekly schedule from the beginning of March through the end of May:
Monday--Homework, instrument practicing, FHE
Tuesday--Dance, Homework, instrument practicing, Activity Days (every other week), Baseball game
Wednesday--Homework, guitar lessons, instrument practicing, YM/Scouts, batting cages
Thursday--Homework, instrument practicing, Hollywood Kids, Cub Scouts, Soccer Practice, Baseball Game
Friday--Piano lessons, occasional campouts/activities for Scouts, friend fun (late nights, parties)
Saturday--Soccer game, Baseball game, Birthday parties (almost every week), any extra activities

Needless to say, we were pretty busy since we also tried to fit in playdates here and there along with social events such as baby showers, birthday dinners, RS meetings, and work and church responsibilities.  There was a lot of changing of clothes in the car, doing homework on the go, grabbing food on the run for picnics at practices, extra washing of uniforms, loading gear in and out of the car, running back and forth all over town with 30 minute increments to the next destination, meeting halfway to swap children and cars for the next stop, and filling everyone's water bottles (Carlee was an excellent watergirl!).  Next year, Jake wants to try out for a more competitive soccer team so I think that Joe may have to quit his job so that he can help me taxi kids around!

Clark played baseball again this spring was on the Major League Reds Team.  He did a wonderful job and is getting better every year.  His coaches were great and he learned a lot and got some great tips on technique and how to better play the game.  Their team landed right in the middle of the pack as far as wins and losses but ended up taking 3rd place in the tournament.  We were excited that they did so well at the end but I have to admit that I was a bit relieved when they lost that last game.  It was a double elimination tournament and Clark had been playing every night without complaining.  But I was not looking forward to 2 more weeks of games in the Tournament of Champions if they had gone all the way!  We were all getting a little burned out.  And winding down to the end of the school year adds a lot more "extra" activities that we have to juggle as well.

But Clark had a great season and played well.  He had some pretty awesome catches, hits, and slides.  He is so happy when he does well and I love how excited he gets.  It is fun to watch.  The team moms put together a nice scrapbook and slideshow presentation of the kids on the team at their end-of-season party at CiCi's Pizza.  It was so nice and I love all the action shots of Clark.  He really enjoys playing baseball and looks forward to it every year.  Keep working hard and practicing, Clark!

 

Make it around those bases, Clark!

Signing scrapbooks at the end-of-season party

Soccer Season 2012-Cobras

Jacob enjoyed another soccer season this spring.  He was on a team with a lot of friends from our ward in the 7-9 year old age division.  He was awesome and really had fun.  Coach Casey would take him out for a water break and let other players have a turn and the second Jake was done with his drink, he would run back over and say, "Coach!  I'm ready.  Put me back in."

The team struggled a little bit this year but when they worked together and played positions, they really held their own.  Not many goals were made but Jake did end up getting one and he was pretty pumped about it.  I loved watching him play with a big smile on his face.  He never complained that he was tired, thirsty, or too hot.  He got aggressive, ran after the ball, and was a star.  He has proclaimed that "soccer is his life" and wants to play on a more competitive league next year. 

     

Fire Station Field Trip

We went to the fire station again this year with Carlee's preschool.  It's always a fun field trip when the kids learn about the fire trucks, see the firefighters in full uniform, get stickers and coloring books, and take home their very own fire hat. 

Carlee and Jonathan on the back of the fire truck

Riding in the back of the fire truck

Ella, Ava, and Carlee--Besties and the only girls in their class

Carlee and the fire chief

Mother's Day

Saturday night, Joe and I had our date night and gave the kids instructions to keep the house clean and picked up for Mother's Day so that we could have a nice enjoyable day on Sunday.  When we arrived home at about 11:00 p.m. we walked into the family room and saw this . . .

We immediately started laughing because this was the complete opposite of what I had asked for and the kids always have the house clean when we come home from our dates.  I had to take pictures because it was so extreme--forts, pillows, blankets, popcorn, soda, snacks, etc.  At least they were all in their pajamas!

Sunday morning, the kids got up early and cleaned up their fort from the night before.  They made me a delicious breakfast of German pancakes, fresh fruit and a "Clark Classic" smoothie.  And they showered me with a bunch of homemade cards and gifts.  Joe bought me a really pretty watch.  Clark wrote me a sweet letter and made a card.  Katelyn made me some bath salts, a coupon book, homemade flowers, and made a few cards.  Jake gave me a handprinted tile and a sweet note.  Carlee gave me a handprinted apron, letter, and found some earrings in my own jewelry box to wrap up and give me ;)

While we were getting ready for church and afterwards, Carlee took some random pictures so I had to throw those in too.  We had a great relaxing Sunday playing together and Joe made a delicious dinner of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and salad.  I love my family so much and am grateful to be a wife and mother.  It is something that I have always looked forward to and enjoy every day.  I am grateful for the opportunity to stay at home and watch my children grow and catch every moment of their lives.  I have been blessed with amazing women in my life--moms, sisters, and friends that are true examples of love, service, compassion, and experience.  They help me along my own way and show the world that motherhood is important and a blessing.  Happy Mother's Day!

 

This Little Turkey

Right now Carlee is obsessed with taking pictures and videos of herself with my phone.  Late at night, when I am in bed, I have to go through my phone and "clean it up" after her use.


There are several videos of her that I am going to use as blackmail when she is a teenager.  Joe and I have ended up crying with laughter at some of them.  She tends to be overly dramatic about loving me, missing me, and begging me to have another baby.  She also loves to make videos of herself painting fingernails, putting on makeup and doing different hairstyles.  They are her "tutorials".  And she loves to walk around the house recording "video diaries" of her daily tasks, including going to the bathroom.  They are quite funny and way too long to put on my blog, unfortunately.

Carlee is also a fashionista--posing and changing into different outfits with accessories. 

One day I was opening the door for Carlee after running some errands and noticed an inscription above the handle.  When I looked closer, I saw that it read C a r l e e.  I looked at her and asked in a firm voice, "Did you scratch your name into the car?"  She immediately looked worried and said slowly, "How did you know it was me?"  I told her that she had written her very own name and that I knew her handwriting.  She just stared at me.  I asked her what she scratched with and she replied that she had picked up a metal hook found in the parking lot and scratched her name.  I got a little angry and asked, "Why on earth would you scratch something into the car?  It doesn't come off!"  Her eyes filled with tears and her lips drew down as she shrilly explained, "I wrote my name there so that I knew which side the door to open is to get into my carseat!"